![](\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/56162a32f33f01f4c872c5bcf522fe17.png\")
<\/a>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.0.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”intro” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ text_orientation=”justified” z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\nIf you\u2019ve just moved to Germany, there are few things you need to sort out first.<\/p>\n
Once you’ve found an apartment, done your Anmeldung, figured out the health insurance system<\/a>, opened a bank account<\/a>, got a German SIM card<\/a> and signed up for some personal liability insurance<\/a>, you can FINALLY breathe a sigh of relief and start concentrating on enjoying your new life.<\/p>\n Next priority? I guess it has to be making friends and meeting people!<\/p>\n So, we’ve listed 7 great ideas for the best ways to meet people when you’re a newbie expat in Germany.<\/p>\n Save<\/span>Save<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”30px||30px||true|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Settling-in-4-min-min.jpg” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ width=”60%” width_tablet=”85%” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”10px” box_shadow_vertical=”10px” box_shadow_blur=”12px” box_shadow_spread=”1px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.5)”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Meetup” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ text_orientation=”justified” z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meetup<\/a> was founded in the US as a means of bringing people together with like minded interests.<\/p>\n It\u2019s free to register and create a profile, and also in most cases to join the various groups. You can search Meetup based on your interests within a certain radius of where you are living.<\/p>\n In major German cities there are plenty of expat and international meetup groups, and most of them are free to participate in.<\/p>\n Typical international meetup groups on the site are for activities such as drinks and dining, hiking, sports, yoga, travel and cooking.<\/p>\n Meetup allows individual groups to charge membership fees, payable through Paypal on the site. Many groups remain free though and as such, it\u2019s a great way to try out a few different people without making a financial commitment.<\/p>\n Meetup\u2019s business model is that they charge fees to create and administer a group, but do not actively control or manage any of the groups themselves. These are all managed and administered by Meetup members themselves, usually with the help of a small team of organisers and event coordinators. The vast majority of expat \/ international groups are not-for-profit and are run by volunteers.<\/p>\n Save<\/span>Save<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Internations” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ text_orientation=”justified” z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\n A German company, headquartered in Munich, Internations’<\/a>\u00a0mission statement is \u201cconnecting international minds\u201d.<\/p>\n It is free to register a profile on Internations but then they try at every opportunity to get you to upgrade to their premium Albatross membership, which works out at \u20ac6.95 per month if you pay annually.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not an Albatross member, you pay a one-time fee each time you wish to attend an organised event.\u00a0The business model of Internations is therefore very different to Meetup.<\/p>\n Other than registering a profile and being able to send contact requests to other members, most other functions require Albatross membership. For example, any of the sub-groups serving specific hobbies and interests within a branch \/ chapter are only accessible to Albatross members.<\/p>\n The main advantage of Internations is that it is aimed specifically at expat professionals. Therefore, as a means of meeting new people and to make friends in Germany, it is perhaps the most targeted and obvious route.<\/p>\n Events are usually very professionally organised, popular and well attended. Typically, events are aimed at professionals and tend to be hosted in more upmarket bars and restaurants.<\/p>\n Internations maintains close control of all of the different branches or chapters in each country and city \/ region and they are run by one or more ambassadors.<\/p>\n Save<\/span>Save<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Tandems” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ text_orientation=”justified” z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\n If you want to brush up on your German online before dipping your toes into these events, then taking an online course with Skillshare<\/a> or Udemy<\/a>, or using an virtual tutoring service like italki<\/a> is a great idea!<\/p>\n You can find a language partner through matching websites such as Tandem Partner<\/a>. Or, if you prefer a more social setting, check out MeetUp.com<\/a> for language exchange events in your city that\u00a0offer just that.<\/p>\n You may not necessarily meet someone with whom you have a lot of common interests first time around, but this is usually a great, fun way to make friends with locals as an alternative to the expat bubble.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Toytown” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ text_orientation=”justified” z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\n Toytown is a popular expat advice forum in Germany which also used to be very popular for organising events and meet-ups through its regional sub-forums<\/a>.<\/p>\n Nowadays most of this activity has migrated to sites like Meetup and Internations, and local Facebook Groups.<\/p>\n The exception is in Munich<\/strong>, where the Toytown forum actually originated before spreading nationwide. The Munich forum on Toytown still maintains a popular following for all things meet-up and event related, and has a very well attended range of weekly and monthly meet-ups.<\/p>\n Save<\/span>Save<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”FB Groups” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ text_orientation=”justified” z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\n Facebook Groups are a great way to make friends in Germany, especially with similar interest groups. Not only for expats, but in general for any type of activity.<\/p>\n A good tip to find expat or international groups is to search for \u201cnew in\u201d, \u201cexpats in\u201d or \u201cinternational\u201d plus the name of the city. Then click on the category \u201cgroups\u201d to narrow down the search.<\/p>\n For all major German cities you will find something! For meeting new people, Facebook is a great option, although you may need to try a few groups first before you find one which actively organises meet-ups.<\/p>\n Save<\/span>Save<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.0.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”30px||30px||true|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Settling-in-3-min-min.jpg” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ width=”60%” width_tablet=”85%” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”10px” box_shadow_vertical=”10px” box_shadow_blur=”12px” box_shadow_spread=”1px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.5)”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Sports clubs” _builder_version=”4.0.7″ text_orientation=”justified” z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\n Sports clubs, or\u00a0Sportvereine<\/em>\u00a0in German are a great way to make friends with the locals, doing something you all enjoy together.<\/p>\n Language is not so important in a sports club as it may be in other social settings when looking to make friends in Germany outside of the international community. Don’t worry therefore if you speak only a little German, although it will be difficult making basic communication if your German knowledge is absolutely zero.<\/p>\n You will typically be expected to pay an annual membership fee. This can range from a fairly low amount of around \u20ac50 for sports which don’t have their own facilities, such as badminton clubs that train in school sports halls, right up to several hundred \u20ac a year for higher-end tennis clubs.<\/p>\n Age range tends to be fairly representative of society as a whole, so don’t be too concerned that sports clubs will be full of top-fit twentysomethings. There are also members who just train or play on a hobby basis and have no wish or desire to play competitive sport.<\/p>\n Save<\/span>Save<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Volunteering” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ text_orientation=”justified” z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\n \u00a0Similar to sports clubs, volunteer associations and organisations are a great way to meet people with similar interests. Popular interests include anything church related, help for refugees, homeless charities, animal rescue & welfare shelters and environmental organisations.<\/p>\n Germans have a strong sense of community and enjoy organised, planned activities in these types of organisations, in a set-up which is similar as described for sports clubs.<\/p>\n To participate in these, it may be awkward at first when looking to make friends in Germany if you don\u2019t speak much German. It’s a great way to improve your language skills and social circle though with sympathetic, like minded people.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f8f8f8″ width=”80%” width_tablet=”75%” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|tablet” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”2vw||||false|false” border_radii=”on|15px|15px|15px|15px” border_width_all=”1px” global_module=”47539″ saved_tabs=”all”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”1vw||0vw||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”1vw||1vw||true|false”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.5.7″ 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custom_margin_phone=”|10px|7vw|10px|false|true” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”5px|10px|5px|10px|true|true” link_option_url=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/visas-residence-permits\/” z_index_tablet=”500″ border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#4d4d4d” background_enable_color__hover=”on” background__hover_enabled=”on|hover”][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.26.3″ custom_padding=”|15px||15px|false|false”][et_pb_blurb title=”%22HOW TO%22 GUIDES” url=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/how-to-guides\/” image=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/how-to-articles.png” alt=”how to articles” image_max_width=”50%” image_max_width_tablet=”50%” image_max_width_phone=”60%” image_max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”How to Articles” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ header_font_size=”16px” background_enable_color=”off” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|10px||10px|false|true” custom_margin_tablet=”||5vw||false|true” custom_margin_phone=”|10px|7vw|10px|false|true” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”5px|10px|5px|10px|true|true” link_option_url=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/how-to-guides\/” z_index_tablet=”500″ border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#4d4d4d” background_enable_color__hover=”on” background__hover_enabled=”on|hover”][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.5.7″ width=”100%” custom_margin=”0vw|auto|0vw|auto|true|false” custom_padding=”0px|50px|2vw|50px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.26.3″ custom_padding=”|15px||15px|false|false”][et_pb_blurb title=”LIFE IN GERMANY” url=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/life-in-germany\/” image=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/life-in-germany.png” alt=”life in germany” image_max_width=”50%” image_max_width_tablet=”50%” image_max_width_phone=”60%” image_max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Life in Germany” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ header_font_size=”16px” background_enable_color=”off” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|10px||10px|false|true” custom_margin_tablet=”||5vw||false|true” custom_margin_phone=”|10px|7vw|10px|false|true” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”5px|10px|5px|10px|true|true” link_option_url=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/life-in-germany\/” z_index_tablet=”500″ border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#4d4d4d” background_enable_color__hover=”on” background__hover_enabled=”on|hover”][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.26.3″ 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Once you’ve found an apartment, done your Anmeldung, figured out the health insurance system, opened a bank account, got a German SIM card and signed up for some personal liability insurance, you can FINALLY breathe a sigh of relief […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":48495,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\u00a0\r\nSocialising as an expat: how to make friends in Germany<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Meetup<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Internations<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Tandem Language Partners<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Toytown Germany<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Facebook Groups<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Sports clubs<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Volunteer associations<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Looking for helpful content on another topic?<\/h4>\n
Settling In: How To Meet People And Make Friends In Germany<\/h2>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nIf you\u2019ve just moved to a new country or a new city, then once you\u2019ve got settled into your new apartment and got everything sorted with the necessary bureaucracy, making friends and meeting people is no doubt going to be high on your priority list.\r\n\r\nBelow are 7 great ideas for the best ways to meet people and make friends in Germany.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nBefore you read the article, a quick call-to-action! Please subscribe to us on YouTube<\/strong><\/a> if you would like to see new videos when we upload them. We've just started out and will add new content each week. Thanks! :-)<\/em>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n
![\"make](\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Settling-in-4-min-min-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nMeetup<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nMeetup<\/a> was founded in the US as a means of bringing people together with like minded interests. It\u2019s free to register and create a profile, and also in most cases to join the various groups. You can search Meetup based on your interests within a certain radius of where you are living. In major German cities there are plenty of expat and international meetup groups, and most of them are free to participate in.\r\n\r\nTypical international meetup groups on the site are for activities such as drinks and dining, hiking, sports, yoga, travel and cooking. Meetup allows individual groups to charge membership fees, payable through Paypal on the site. Many groups remain free though and as such, it\u2019s a great way to try out a few different people without making a financial commitment.\r\n\r\nMeetup\u2019s business model is that they charge fees to create and administer a group, but do not actively control or manage any of the groups themselves. These are all managed and administered by Meetup members themselves, usually with the help of a small team of organisers and event coordinators. The vast majority of expat \/ international groups are not-for-profit and are run by volunteers.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n
Internations<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nInternations<\/a> is in fact a German company, headquartered in Munich, with its mission statement of \u201cconnecting international minds\u201d. It is free to register a profile on Internations but then they try at every opportunity to get you to upgrade to their premium Albatross membership, which works out at \u20ac6.95 per month if you pay annually. If you\u2019re not an Albatross member, you pay a one-time fee each time you wish to attend an organised event.\r\n\r\nThe business model of Internations is therefore very different to Meetup. Other than registering a profile and being able to send contact requests to other members, most other functions require Albatross membership. For example, any of the sub-groups serving specific hobbies and interests within a branch \/ chapter are only accessible to Albatross members.\r\n\r\nThe main advantage of Internations is that it is aimed at the expat community. Therefore, as a means of meeting new people and to make friends in Germany, it is perhaps the most targeted and obvious route. Events are usually very professionally organised, popular and well attended. Events are typically aimed at professionals and tend to be hosted in more upmarket bars and restaurants.\r\n\r\nInternations maintains close control of all of the different branches or chapters in each country and city \/ region and they are run by one or more ambassadors.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n
![\"making](\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Setling-in-8-min-min-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nToytown Germany<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nToytown is a popular expat advice forum which also used to be very popular for organising events and meet-ups through its regional sub-forums<\/a>. Nowadays most of this activity has migrated to sites like Meetup and Internations, as well as Facebook Groups.\r\n\r\nThe exception is in Munich, where the Toytown forum actually originated before spreading nationwide. The Munich forum on Toytown still maintains a popular following for all things meet-up and event related, and has a very well attended range of weekly and monthly meet-ups.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n
Facebook Groups<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nFacebook Groups are a great way to make contacts with new people with similar interest groups, not only for expats but in general for any type of activity.\r\n\r\nA good tip to find expat or international groups is to search for \u201cnew in\u201d, \u201cexpats in\u201d or \u201cinternational\u201d plus the name of the city. Then click on the category \u201cgroups\u201d to narrow down the search. For all major German cities you will find something! For meeting new people and to make friends in Germany, Facebook is a great option, although you may need to try a few groups first before you find one which actively organises meet-ups.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n
![\"make](\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Settling-in-3-min-min-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nSports clubs<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nSports clubs, or\u00a0Sportvereine<\/em>\u00a0in German are a great way to make friends in Germany with the locals, doing something you all enjoy together. Especially for\u00a0team sports, this is a fantastic way to build camaraderie and friendships quickly outside of an expat bubble.\r\n\r\nLanguage is not so important in a sports club as it may be in other social settings when looking to make friends in Germany outside of the international community. Don't worry therefore if you speak only a little German, although it will be difficult making basic communication if your German knowledge is absolutely zero. It may be daunting at first but as long as you can communicate enough to understand the training schedule and membership fees, that should be enough!\r\n\r\nYou will typically be expected to pay an annual membership fee. This can range from a fairly low amount of around \u20ac50 for sports which don't have their own facilities, such as badminton clubs that train in school sports halls, right up to several hundred \u20ac a year for higher-end tennis clubs with their own clubhouse, courts and bar & restaurant facilities.\r\n\r\nAge range tends to be fairly representative of the demographic spectrum as a whole, so don't be too concerned that sports clubs will be full of top-fit twentysomethings. There are also members who just train or play on a hobby basis and have no wish or desire to play competitive sport.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n
Volunteer associations<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nSimilar to sports clubs, volunteer associations and organisations are a great way to meet people with similar interests. Popular interests include anything church related, help for refugees, homeless charities, animal rescue & welfare shelters and environmental organisations.\r\n\r\nGermans have a strong sense of community and enjoy organised, planned activities in these types of organisations, in a set-up which is similar as described for sports clubs. To participate in these, it may be awkward at first when looking to make friends if you don\u2019t speak much German, but it is a great way to improve your language skills and social circle in an environment with sympathetic, like minded people.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n
![\"make](\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Settling-in-5-min-min-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nTandem Language Partners<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nWe already covered this in one of our previous articles about learning German<\/a> by encouraging you to make contact with native speakers in an informal environment where both you and your German speaking tandem partner are benefiting from the exchange. You may not necessarily meet someone with whom you have a lot of common interests first time around, but this is usually a great, fun way to make friends with locals as an alternative to the expat bubble.\r\n\r\nYou can find a language partner through matching websites such as Tandem Partner<\/a>. Or, if you prefer a more social setting and at the same time being able to improve your German skills, language exchange meet-ups such as those organised in several German cities by My City Language Exchange<\/a>\u00a0offer just that.\r\n\r\nSave<\/span>Save<\/span>\r\n\r\nSave<\/span>Save<\/span>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[261],"tags":[201],"class_list":["post-25919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to-guides","tag-make-friends-in-germany"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25919","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25919"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25919\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48526,"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25919\/revisions\/48526"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25919"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25919"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}